The Spring Trials weekend at Newbury gets underway today, with Shabab Al Ahli facing off against Sahara King in the feature Darley EBF Novice Stakes. Trainer Charlie Appleby sends out Shabab Al Ahli, a Frankel colt who won at Southwell in February and has been quoted at 33-1 for the Derby. The colt will be looking to build on that success and potentially set himself up for a run at the Epsom Classic.
Sahara King, meanwhile, will be looking to follow up on his debut win at Wolverhampton in November. Another horse to watch is My Love Is King, trained by John Gosden, who won on debut at Newcastle and holds a Derby entry. The classy Gilded Prize will also be in action, looking to take top honors in the Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cleopatre ahead of a potential run at the Prix de Diane. Other notable races today include the Greenham Stakes, where Zavateri and Albert Einstein will face off, and the Bridget 'Confined' Maiden Fillies' Stakes, which features a number of exciting pedigrees, including Synchronicity, a full-sister to Ombudsman.
At Bath, Hunky Dory will be looking to follow up on his recent win at Wolverhampton, despite shouldering a 5lb penalty in the MJ Church Handicap.